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Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread

Started by Molch-R, 10 December, 2014, 03:30:20 PM

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IndigoPrime

Lew Stringer's written about this a lot, as have others. The lack of titles beyond ones aimed at kids and adults is quite curious, to the point the medium itself is relatively unknown to some. I recall reading someone who mentioned Jason Kingsley talking to a teen about comics, and the lad saying that the concept seemed cool, but it had apparently passed him by. Crazy when I think of how I was surrounded by piles of the things as a kid, despite also growing up an in age of videogaming (albeit of the 8-bit variety; no internet then, of course).

Jim_Campbell

Quote from: IndigoPrime on 16 March, 2015, 10:23:07 AM
Lew Stringer's written about this a lot, as have others. The lack of titles beyond ones aimed at kids and adults is quite curious, to the point the medium itself is relatively unknown to some.

I keep banging on about this... comics for the ten-and-under market are remarkably healthy and I don't believe that kids get to eleven and simply won't read comics. The fact is, there are no comics for them to read and so they get out of the habit, and so, for them, comics remain associated with childhood/childish reading matter.

Comics targeting the 11-16 bracket would provide the essential bridge to the 'mature' market, and is the reason why so many of us involved in STRIP wanted the magazine to succeed in spite of the combination of incompetence and dodginess of its Bosnian publisher.

I'm still convinced that something pitched between classic-era 2000AD and Warrior on the UK high street could sell enough copies to be viable.

Cheers

Jim
Stupidly Busy Letterer: Samples. | Blog
Less-Awesome-Artist: Scribbles.

TordelBack

I imagine that the problem of this 'bridge' period is that is also the age where less restricted internet access becomes a reality. I supervise my 8 year-old's internet use obsessively, but with his interest in classic games on the Nintendo store and homemade Lego movies even now I'm aware that sometimes I forget that I've left his 3DS WiFi unlocked. The other week I heard him accidentally chant the password as I typed it in, presumably learned by glimpses over my shoulder.  By the time he's in secondary school I've little doubt he'll be able to circumvent any restriction I impose (we've already had 'all my friends have phones', a lie that becomes more plausible daily).

Which is as it should be, I suppose, but where do comics have a hope of fitting when faced with something even more compelling than Horace Goes Skiing?

IndigoPrime

Maybe I'm kidding myself and will discover otherwise with mini-G, but I'm unconvinced the internet or modern games are the problem when it comes to comics. Kids still read. Kids love books. Kids love good comics. I imagine part of the issue is the death-spiral of print continually pushing up prices for the same amount of content, making comics look comparatively poor value, combined with, as Jim noted, the lack of content geared towards the pre-adult audience. (By comparison, teen literature is a big thing of late, and there's increasing choice there.)

Richmond Clements

Quote from: IndigoPrime on 16 March, 2015, 11:35:04 AM
Maybe I'm kidding myself and will discover otherwise with mini-G, but I'm unconvinced the internet or modern games are the problem when it comes to comics. Kids still read. Kids love books. Kids love good comics. I imagine part of the issue is the death-spiral of print continually pushing up prices for the same amount of content, making comics look comparatively poor value, combined with, as Jim noted, the lack of content geared towards the pre-adult audience. (By comparison, teen literature is a big thing of late, and there's increasing choice there.)

As I heard Pat Mills point out once - Japanese and French children have the internet and games consoles, too, and they read a sneck-load of comics.

TordelBack

#710
These are all very good points. I still can't help but compare my bringing that week's 2000AD on camping holidays and reading it again and again and again to the point that I can date most childhood holidays by reference to Barney, with my son's experience of a mountain of games and videos on his DS so that as long as he stays out of the leaks and gets first dibs on the car charger he could be anywhere. The quantity and quality of electronic entertainment available has to act to reduce the importance of comics in kids' lives.

That said [segue], I hope to use the Mega Collection to fight the tide.

Colin YNWA

Quote from: Richmond Clements on 16 March, 2015, 12:06:18 PM
As I heard Pat Mills point out once - Japanese and French children have the internet and games consoles, too, and they read a sneck-load of comics.

Completely this. I too have long supported the idea that a comic aimed at a younger age akin to 2000ad between say Prog 250 and 600 (pulled out my ass and completely open to debate) but essentially all ages would go down a treat.

I guess the biggest problem and difference between that and the Japanese and French market is they have a shed load of choice. There's comics touching all genera and for all interests. Oh that and comics are read far more commonly by adults and so there is no stigma, though I do think that's diminishing here.

One great 'bridging' comic (to borrow Jim's term will not get us there, but it would certainly be a start.

IndigoPrime

I think the stigma still exists, but the audience just happens to be growing a little as well. There's a real disconnect in general, with people who'll happily flock towards the latest Marvel blockbuster, but look at you funny if you say you read comics.

shaolin_monkey

Quote from: IndigoPrime on 16 March, 2015, 02:33:37 PM
I think the stigma still exists, but the audience just happens to be growing a little as well. There's a real disconnect in general, with people who'll happily flock towards the latest Marvel blockbuster, but look at you funny if you say you read comics.

Ha!  Funny you should say that - I was in the pool a few months back, and a guy covered in Marvel tats approached me to comment on mine (I have a large Monkey King on my back).  I politely enthused about his Spidey and Thor etc, and commented if I were to get any more tats my next would probably be a Judge Dredd one.  He actually snorted in derision!  Arsewipe. 


Colin YNWA

Quote from: IndigoPrime on 16 March, 2015, 02:33:37 PM
I think the stigma still exists, but the audience just happens to be growing a little as well. There's a real disconnect in general, with people who'll happily flock towards the latest Marvel blockbuster, but look at you funny if you say you read comics.

Maybe I'm being overly optimistic? I certainly don't get the same looks I used to when I wipe mine out in public. Though the fact I'm a lot more confident than I used to be may mean I don't seem them, or worry about them the way the me in my teens and early 20s would have.

I see more people reading comics publicly and certainly when you look around the College I work at the students seem by and large happy to engage - if they are interested with no stigma.

I reckon real progress has been made?

But I should stop dragging this off topic!

Leigh S


Japan and France have a wider culture of everyone, particularly adults, reading comics, wich I think plays into that - if you see adults reading them, and there is that level of infiltration to the general culture, then of course the kids of all ages will read and find something to read.

Quote from: Colin_YNWA on 16 March, 2015, 01:43:40 PM
Quote from: Richmond Clements on 16 March, 2015, 12:06:18 PM
As I heard Pat Mills point out once - Japanese and French children have the internet and games consoles, too, and they read a sneck-load of comics.

Completely this. I too have long supported the idea that a comic aimed at a younger age akin to 2000ad between say Prog 250 and 600 (pulled out my ass and completely open to debate) but essentially all ages would go down a treat.

I guess the biggest problem and difference between that and the Japanese and French market is they have a shed load of choice. There's comics touching all genera and for all interests. Oh that and comics are read far more commonly by adults and so there is no stigma, though I do think that's diminishing here.

One great 'bridging' comic (to borrow Jim's term will not get us there, but it would certainly be a start.

TordelBack

Quote from: shaolin_monkey on 16 March, 2015, 02:44:28 PMI was in the pool a few months back, and a guy covered in Marvel tats approached me to comment on mine (I have a large Monkey King on my back).  I politely enthused about his Spidey and Thor etc, and commented if I were to get any more tats my next would probably be a Judge Dredd one.  He actually snorted in derision!  Arsewipe.

It starts well, but you're going to have to work on that ending before you pitch it to the porn studios.

Tjm86

Quote from: Colin Zeal on 15 March, 2015, 10:02:33 PM
It does make me nostalgic for the days when I got into comics as a kid. I had to visit the shop every day to get the paper for my parents. As a reward I was allowed to choose a comic for myself. Back then there was a huge range of titles to choose from and this was great. Where do today's kids get that same amount of exposure?

I know what you mean.  I remember being able to traipse round the different newsagents in Gloucester who all seemed to stock different comics from different publishers.  Was complete pot luck as to what you would find at times but all seemed to have a shelve full of semi current Marvel / DC / tooth / best of tooth.  First time I went to Nostalgia and Comics in Birmingham I almost had a breakdown! (this was back in the days before FP took it over mind).

Satanist

Quote from: Tordelback on 16 March, 2015, 04:12:01 PM
Quote from: shaolin_monkey on 16 March, 2015, 02:44:28 PMI was in the pool a few months back, and a guy covered in Marvel tats approached me to comment on mine (I have a large Monkey King on my back).  I politely enthused about his Spidey and Thor etc, and commented if I were to get any more tats my next would probably be a Judge Dredd one.  He actually snorted in derision!  Arsewipe.

It starts well, but you're going to have to work on that ending before you pitch it to the porn studios.

...then his towel fell off revealing his Punisher  :lol:
Hmm, just pretend I wrote something witty eh?